TN: 2005 Aston Estate Pinot Noir Clone 777 (USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast)

WINE TALK
1

There were mixed reviews on these last year, so I thought I’d revisit. I really enjoyed this particular bottle. Very reminiscent of a KB SVD in a good year. 6 months have been very kind to this wine, as the finish has stttreeetched out and the tannic framing is undeniable. Big priced, big wines in a big bottle aren’t exactly in vogue these days, but based on this bottle, I’d bite on the '07’s.

  • 2005 Aston Estate Pinot Noir Clone 777 - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (8/30/2009)
    Best of the initial release. Powerful, brooding sous bois nose. Rich damson fruit and a long finish. Big, extracted in style, but remarkably pure thanks to razor fresh acidity that cleanses the finish. Great structure and no sign of heat or cloying sweetness typical of the style. A winery to watch as the vines mature. (92 pts.)
2

Hi Jody,
Interesting note on the Aston. I did not bite on the Aston release, but have been buying Rivers-Marie wines since day 1. From all accounts, the RM PN’s have never been accused of being similar to KB. In last month’s Grape Radio boroadcast, TRB said that he makes all of cabs the same way, and the differences in the wines are due to the vineyards they come from. In the case of Aston and RM, PN’s from both are sourced from Sonoma Coast, yet it seems like they come out stylistically on separate spectrums. I wonder if TRB is making the Aston in a different style for Schrader, vs his own taste for the RMs?
Hmmmm…

3

Errol,
I am a huge fan of RM as well, and these two wines are polar opposites on the style spectrum. IIRC, although both are Sonoma Coast, the Aston fruit comes from a warm site around Annapolis, whereas the RM vineyards are around about the much cooler Occidental (or vice versa?). I have to assume the Schrader’s interest in the venture has some impact on the style as well. That interest of course could’ve just been site selection, which wouldn’t be mutually exclusive to TRB’s non-interventionalist approach. The guy has a killer range though, and I love that I can satiate a particular pinot (style) craving from the same winemaker.